NIS, public service to be fully digitised within months

President Ali and Minister Zulfikar Ally with attendees at the launch

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Monday issued firm directives to accelerate Guyana’s National Digitalisation Programme, setting strict deadlines for two key ministries to deliver.

Speaking at the launch of the Public Service Upskilling Platform at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, President Ali gave Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, eight months to fully digitise the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

He also instructed the Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation to complete the digitisation of all public service records within five months.

The president said the conversion of analogue records into digital form is a critical first step toward digitalisation — the use of digital technologies to transform processes and improve efficiency.

President Ali said the government’s goal is to swiftly modernise the public sector and eliminate inefficiencies that frustrate citizens and hinder national progress. Both ministries, he emphasised, have “specific targets and deadlines that must be achieved.”

“I’ve given the Minister of Finance a direction…The Minister of Public Service knows that his entire human resource information system, the entire public service, within five months, all the records, your files, your personal files, everything, must be completely digitised within five months,” President Ali declared.

Once digitised, the new integrated system will allow ministries to share information seamlessly, cross-reference skills across departments, and enhance the efficiency of public service delivery. Ali said digitalisation is not merely a convenience but central to transforming Guyana into a modern, high-performing economy.

Agri-digitisation

The president also highlighted the role of digital tools in boosting the country’s agricultural sector. Within four months, farmers are expected to gain access to technologies and platforms that will improve productivity.

“Within four months, the farmers must be able to use the tool we’ve been investing in to access education in the field, to access real-time information in the field, to access weather in the fields, to access extension support in the field, and to access technology in the field,” the president said.

He added that digital transformation in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and infrastructure aims to create a fully integrated digital economy and position Guyana as a regional leader in innovation and efficiency.

Ali further disclosed that several homegrown apps, developed by local talent to support public service delivery and national development, will be launched in the coming weeks.

“In the next three to four weeks, we will see a series of apps being launched that we are building ourselves, that we are trusting our young people, our brain power, our technical capability to drive this future,” President Ali announced.

These initiatives are part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s 2025 manifesto commitments, which aim to build a smarter, more connected, and inclusive Guyana. (DPI)